Medical Insurance
All new MIT students must complete the Student Medical Report Form, see http://medweb.mit.edu/about/medreportFAQ.html. You will need to have received a physical exam within the past 6 months and have documentation of immunizations. All students are enrolled in the MIT Student Medical Plan. Extended coverage is required to meet state requirements and can be achieved in a number of ways. If you don't use an MIT student insurance plan, you must waive it (see details here http://medweb.mit.edu/healthplans/student/waiver.html).
- MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan (SEIP) - All students are automatically enrolled in the SEIP and must waive coverage each year by the deadline if not needed. The cost for the student is fully paid by MIT, WHOI Academic Programs (APO) or an external fellowship. Students must pay for any additional family members they wish to enroll.
- WHOI Employee Insurance - You can choose to waive the SEIP and instead enroll in one of the WHOI Employee Plans. APO pays the employer share of the cost, and the student is responsible for the employee share. See the WHOI Human Resources website for more info on cost and coverage. Currently it is rare for JP students to choose the WHOI Employee Insurance due to the establishment of the Health Reimbursement Account, discussed below.
- Other sources - If you are eligible for coverage through your parents, partner, or the Navy, etc., you can waive the MIT SEIP coverage. You can waive a semester or a year at a time. Don't miss the deadline to submit your waiver: http://medweb.mit.edu/healthplans/student/waiver.html
Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) / Health Insurance Enhancement Plan
The HRA was established to reduce the costs associated with seeking medical care on the Cape, for those on MIT insurance. JP students covered by MIT extended insurance who are unable to seek care at MIT Medical for conditions requiring prompt attention (e.g., flu, ear ache) are eligible to visit any physician’s office within the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO network. Copayment that would not have been incurred if the student had been able to visit MIT Medical can be reimbursed by filling out a form and submitting it to Benefit Strategies, a 3rd party. The HRA is also available for reimbursing WHOI-based students with chronic health concerns who are required to make frequent doctor visits (e.g., allergy shots, diabetes treatment), and it can be used to cover fees associated with counselling appointments.
JP students should consider the HRA as a supplement to, but not a replacement for, the MIT SEIP – non-urgent and infrequent appointments such as an annual physical exam should be scheduled at MIT Medical. If you travel from the Cape to MIT Medical, your costs can be fully reimbursed by Academic Programs (bus fare, parking pass, etc. by completing a Travel Expense Voucher and submitting it to the Academic Programs Office). If you have trouble getting reimbursed through the HRA, or have questions about how to use it, please contact someone in the Academic Programs Office or Human Resources. More info on this program is available through the MIT-WHOI website.
Mental Health
Counselling and psychiatric services are available through MIT Mental Health. For those on the Cape, students can take advantage of the WHOI Employee and Student Assistance Program (ESAP, see WHOI Human Resources website) in conjunction with MIT SEIP coverage. Each year, students can receive 5 visits to a counsellor covered by WHOI Employee and Student Assistance Program (ESAP), the next 12 visits free under MIT SEIP, and the next 12 visits at a co-pay which the WHOI HRA will reimburse for.
Prescriptions
For those on MIT insurance, the cheapest option is to pick them up at the MIT Medical Pharmacy. Most contraceptives are free (thanks Obamacare!), other medications currently have a copay of $5 to $25 per month.
If you don't want to make a trip to MIT, most prescriptions can be mailed. Request a refill and then call the pharmacy to get it mailed to your home address. They charge an extra $7 to mail the prescriptions and they will send up to 3 months at a time.
For medications that cannot be mailed, you can get your doctor to send the prescription to a pharmacy on the Cape that accepts Express Scripts (CVS, Shaws and Stop & Shop all do). You will be charged an extra $10-20, on top of the regular copay, except for contraceptives which should still be free. The MIT SEIP only allows you to get one month at a time from Express Scripts.
Walk-in clinics and emergency care on the Cape
Many specialists on the Cape may also be in network through the Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCare Elect PPO. The BCBS website lists some, but not all of the physicians who are in-network through the BCBS BlueCare Elect PPO plans. Therefore, you may want to call the physician’s office directly and ask if they will take your insurance rather than relying on the BCBS online database.
Mashpee Family Medicine
Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm, and Saturday am
Mashpee Health Center, 5 Industrial Drive, Ste. 100, Mashpee, MA.
phone: 508-539-6208
Strongly recommended by many JP students and WHOI staff. If you call the office, they may let you schedule a same-day appointment with a physician.
Falmouth Walk In Medical Center - Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm (closed 12-1:30pm)
309 Teaticket Highway, East Falmouth, MA (508) 540-6790
Falmouth Hospital
100 Ter Heun Dr., Falmouth; 508-548-5300. They have a complete emergency room with an airlift to Boston or Cape Cod Hospital. No emergency dental care. Within the BCBS PPO network.
Planned Parenthood
210 Jones Road, Falmouth
Eye Care
If you have the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan, you are eligible for one routine eye exam per year at MIT Medical. MIT health insurance does not cover the purchase of glasses or contact lenses. However, WHOI's Environmental Health and Safety Office will reimburse you for the purchase of prescription safety glasses if eye protection is needed for your research. The reimbursement is up to $180 per year (a pair of safety glasses with high index lenses cost $152 in 2011). See http://ehs.whoi.edu/ehs/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=1&tabid=3&itemID=380 and contact Georgi Crowley (gcrowley@whoi.edu) for more information.
Cambridge Eye / Visionworks
17 Davis Straits Rd., Falmouth Plaza; 508-495-0332. A chain store. Carries a good selection of glasses, sunglasses and contacts.
Website: http://www.visionworks.com/ http://www.cambridge-eyedoctors.com/
MIT Optical
Stratton Student Center, lower level; M-F 9 a.m.-6 p.m phone 617-258-5367. No appointment necessary. Offers students a discount on eyeglass purchases.
Website: http://web.mit.edu/medical/services/s-optical.html
Dental Care
The MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan does not cover routine dental care. MIT graduate students currently have the option to purchase dental coverage at a group rate through Delta Dental. Two plans are available, the PPO Value Plan or the DeltaCare plan . http://graddental.mit.edu/graddental/ Sign up must be done at the beginning of the academic year. Currently (spring 2013) few dentists in Falmouth accept either plan, but please check the Delta Dental website http://www.deltadentalma.com/ for the most up to date info.
Below is an incomplete list of dentists in the Falmouth and Boston areas compiled by surveying Joint Program students for their recommendations.
Richard Demerjian
91A Water St., Woods Hole; 508 548 6655. Good and friendly, and sympathetic to those of us without insurance (meaning they don’t try to do extra, non-necessary things that will cost extra money). Popular with students.
Falmouth Dental Associates (not covered by MIT Delta Dental PPO)
210 Jones Rd., Falmouth; 508-540-0303. As of spring 2013, a cleaning with a hygienist is $125 for those without insurance.
Website: http://www.falmouthdental.com
John C. Gagnon Falmouth Family Dentistry
337 Gifford St., Falmouth; 508-548-2999.
Brian Lee
245 Jones Road, Falmouth; 508-548-5028. Formerly Dr. Garber’s practice.
Thomas D Hutchinson
344B Gifford St., Falmouth; 508-540-2515.
Gerald Roan
205 Worcester Court, Falmouth; 508-548-1699.
Marcus Swann
342 Gifford St Unit 2A, Falmouth; 508-524-3732.
Bright Dental
Independent practice of Karen A. Bright, D.M.D., 435 Washington Street, Somerville, MA. phone 617-491-2829, fax 617-491-0600. Friendly, skilled and offers student discounts - what more could you ask?
Website: http://www.brightdental.com
MIT Dental
MIT E-23 5th floor. phone: 617-253-1501; http://medweb.mit.edu/directory/services/dental.html